Spring Battles Still Unsettled

We're a little over 1/3 of the way through Cactus League action, and the few spring battles that are taking place this spring are no clearer today than they were at the start of spring training.

The biggest battle going on in Giants camp this spring is the battle for the fifth starters spot. Madison Bumgarner was considered the favorite coming into camp, as he's been one of the most dominating starers in the minor leagues over the previous 2 season, and came up to the big leagues and really impressed in a brief stint at the end of last season. However, Bumgarner hasn't been quite as impressive this spring as the Giants were hoping, and hasn't really run away with the job. The main concern with Bumgarner is his velocity, which is down significantly from where it was at in during the majority of the 2009 season. Before Bumgarner was called up to the Giants last year his heater was consistently clocked between 92-95 mph. But he was down around 90 mph at the end of the year with the Giants, and has dropped even more this spring. He's been around 87-88 mph so far, and isn't having the success he's used to. His struggles this spring have prompted the Giants to discuss possibly starting him off in Fresno to begin the year.

Todd Wellemeyer was considered the favorite to get the job if Bumgarner indeed starts the year in Fresno, but Kevin Pucetas has really emerged as a strong candidate as well. Kevin Pucetas posted his third consecutive scoreless outing Saturday, throwing 3 perfect innings and striking out a batter in his second start of the spring. Pucetas has allowed just 3 hits in his 7 shutout innings this spring and hasn't yet walked a batter. Wellemeyer has thrown pretty well too, allowing just 2 earned runs and 1 walk through his 10 innings this spring. Both guys have done more to earn the fifth spot than MadBum, but there is still plenty of spring baseball left.

The battle for the remaining bullpen spots is a little tough to sort out at this point as well. The Giants essentially have 4 guys who are basically guaranteed spots and those 4 are Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt, Brandon Medders and Sergio Romo. I'd have to say that 24 year-old flame-throwing lefty Dan Runzler is pretty much a lock as well since he's looked just as good this spring as he did with the Giants last September. With the Giants likely leaning towards carrying 12 pitchers on their opening day roster, that would leave space for 2 more relievers to make the team. I really like the way Alex Hinshaw and Henry Sosa (who we've mentioned a few times here this spring) are throwing, but both of those guys do have some control issues. Guillermo Mota has also done just about all he can so far to earn himself a spot, and I do think he's got a slight upper hand on the rest of the bunch because he's a veteran, and the Giants are trotting out a real young pitching staff. Adding Mota and Sosa would give the Giants the most potent bullpen, and would really stockpile them with live arms that throw the ball in the mid to high 90's. I just don't think the Giants are ready to allow Sosa to make that leap all the way up to the big leagues. Injury issues have kept him from pitching above AA ball, and they may want to start him out in Fresno.

If the Giants intend on keeping him the rotation, then I absolutely agree with starting him in Fresno and I don't mind him starting in Fresno as a reliever either, but he's going to be 25 this summer, and I don't think the Giants should be easing him along any longer. If the season started today, the last 2 spots would go to Hinshaw and Mota, but this is definitely a situation, like the fifth starters spot, to continue monitoring throughout the spring.

Giants 2010 Roster Preview/Predictions Post Coming Next!!!